John conway



Patented Oct. 25, I898.

J. CONWAY.

PARTITION FOR WASHTUBS.

(Application filed. Mar. 2, 1897.)

(No Model.)

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CONWAY, OF UNION, HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION GRANITE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PARTITION FoR WASHTUBS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,823, dated October 25, 1898. I

Application filed March 2, 1897. $erial No. 625,759. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN CONWAY, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Union, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Partitions for IVashtubs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and eitective partition for combined washtubs and bath-tubs.

My improved partition is provided with a recess around three of its sides and a watertight packing-strip secured to the partition over the recess and adapted to be engaged by a projecting rib on the inside walls and bottom of the tub to form a water-tight joint.

The means for locking the partition in place may consist of a pair of locking arms or levers mounted in the partition and operated by a hand-wheel or cam and adapted to engage in locking-sockets formed in the walls of the tub. In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will firstdescribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings and afterward point out the novelty with more particularity in the annexed claims.

In said drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are transverse sectional views of tubs, showing two forms of locking means for securing the partition in position. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail horizontal sectional views showing three forms of water-tight packing-strips. Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of a further modification of locking device.

In Fig. 1, 1 and 2 are the sides of the tub, and 3 is a removable partition in the tub, dividing it into two basins or compartments.

My present invention relates to the construction of the partition and the means for looking it in place.

The partition 3 is provided upon its edge with a packing-strip, which may be formed as shown in Fig. 3 or as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5. In Fig. 3 I have shown a packing-strip having a single rib 4 formed integral with the main dovetailed strip portion 4, which main dovetailed portion at is inserted in a dovetail slot or recess 5, extending around the three edges of the partition 3. The packingstrip is inserted in the slot or recess by stretching. In Figs. at and 5 the packingstrip consists of the flat band or ribbon 57 or 61, resting against the edge of the partition, which is hollowed out to form a curved or angular recess and is adapted to be compressed over a projecting pipe or rib on the wall of the tub, as hereinafter explained.

It will be observed that the inner faces of the sides 1 and 2 of the tub are formed with mortises 9 and 10 near the top, in which fit the wings or projections 11 and 12, formed on the upper part of the partition 3. Projecting from the bottom edge of the partition shown in Fig. 1 is a tenon or lug l3, fitting in the socket 14 in the bottom of the tub.

I have found it most satisfactory to make the partition 3 of metal, preferably aluminium or brass, as they are free from rust and are strong, light, and will not swell or warp as a wooden partition would. The packingstrip is preferably of rubber, but may be of other suitable compressible material.

21 is a drain or waste pipe leading from the strainer 22 out through the side wall of the tub down to the coupling 20.

In Fig. 1 I have shown an arrangement for securing the partition in place in the tub, the same comprising the rods or levers 25, supported in a suitable socket or cavity in the partition 3, with their outer ends projecting beyond the edge of the partition through suitable openings and their inner ends pivoted to a yoke 26. 27 27 are pins which pass through slots 28, formed in the levers 25, upon which said levers rock and move longitudinally. 29 are 1ocking-sockets formed in the sidewalls 1 and 2 of the tub, with which the projecting ends of rods or levers 25 can be thrown into engagement. 30 is a threaded rod supported against longitudinal movement in bearing 31 and passing through a threaded opening in the yoke 26. 32 is an operating hand-wheel keyed to the rod 30 and operating in the cut-out portion 17 of the partition. It will beobserved that upon rotating the hand- 5 wheel 32 to the right the inner ends of levers 25 will be moved downwardly, which will cause the levers to project out through the openings in the edges of the partition and en gage the sockets 29 inthe walls of the tub. 100

The continued downward movement of the inner ends of levers 25 will press the partition firmly to its seat.

In Fig. 2 the walls of the tub are provided with locking-sockets 29, and the partition is provided with longitudinally-movable locking-arms 35, held in disengaged position by means of leaf-springs 36, secured within the partition by means of pins 37 38, and engaging the inner hooked ends 39 of the rods. The outer ends are beveled at 40 for the purpose of engaging the walls of sockets 29 and assisting in throwing the partition downwardly into locked position. is a lockingcam keyed to the rock-shaft 46 and provided with an operating-handle 47. The cam 45 is supported centrally between the ends of the locking-arms 35 and is adapted to press them simultaneously outwardly against the tendency of the springs 36.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a slightly-different modification, in which the locking-rods 35 are formed with pins 50 at their inner ends,which work in cam-slots 51, formed in the operating-cam 52. This form of locking device operates in substantially the same manner as the form shown in Fig. 2, with the exception that the springs are omitted.

In Figs. 2 and 4 I have represented a drainpipe embedded in the inner faces of the sides and bottom of the tub and communicatin g wit-h the lower drain-pipe coupling 20. In

this form of the tub the drain-pipe forms a slight projection on the inner Walls of the tub, and it is therefore necessary to mortise or cut away the edge of the partition 3 to form a recess or channel 56, over which is placed a plain band or strip-packing 57, so that when i the partition3 is forced down into position the projecting drain-pipe will form a watertight joint against the packing. A further modification of this idea is represented in Fig. 5, in which the partition 3 has an angular channel cut in its edge, over which is placed the strip-packing 61, and to compress the packing 61 into the angular channel 60 I form an angular projection or ridge 62 on the inner face of the side walls and bottom of the tub.

If the partition were formed of wood, there would be danger of breaking the tub from the swelling of the wood, and I therefore propose to make them of some suitable metal, such as aluminium or brass.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination, in a washtub, of a removable partition, having a recess in its edge, means for detachably securing the partition in place in the tub, and a packing-strip secured to the partition over the recess and extending around the edge of the partition, and a projection on the inner walls and bottom of the tub against which the strip is compressed, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in. a washtub, of a drain-pipe extending down on the inner side of one wall of the tub, and projecting slightly from the surface thereof, a removable partition supported in the plane of the drain-pipe, and a packing on the partition adapted to be compressed against the pipe, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a washtub, of a removable partition, means for supporting the partition in upright position in the tub, sockets formed in the wall of the tub, longitudinally-movable locking arms or levers supported in the partition adapted to engage said sockets, a yoke pivotally connected to said locking-arms, a screw journaled in the partition and engaging said yoke, and a handoperated device for operating said screw, substantially as set forth. I

4:. The combination in a Washtub, of a removable partition, locking-sockets formed in the walls of the tub, locking arms or levers formed with longitudinal slots, pins working in said slots, and suitable means for projecting said locking-levers longitudinally and at the same time pressing their inner ends downwardly for forcing the partition to its seat and securing it, substantially as set forth.

JOHN CONWAY.

WVitnesses:

HARRY E. KNIGHT, M. V. BIDGooD 

